From Smart Experiences to Tourist Loyalty: The Mediating Role of Satisfaction in Kintamani Culinary Tourism

Abstract

Kintamani is one of Bali's most visited culinary destinations, yet little is known about how smart tourism shapes the experience of visitors who come specifically for its food. This study examines the effect of smart tourism on tourist satisfaction and revisit intention at Kintamani's culinary tourism destination, with tourist satisfaction as a mediating variable. An explanatory quantitative approach was applied, with 150 tourists surveyed using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS 4. Results confirm that smart tourism positively and significantly affects both tourist satisfaction (β = 0.502, t = 7.524, p < 0.001) and revisit intention (β = 0.161, t = 2.374, p = 0.018). Tourist satisfaction strongly predicts revisit intention (β = 0.604, t = 11.489, p < 0.001) and mediates the smart tourism and revisit intention relationship (β = 0.303, t = 5.881, p < 0.001), demonstrating partial mediation. The effect size of satisfaction on revisit intention is large (f² = 0.533), while smart tourism exerts a medium-to-large effect on satisfaction (f² = 0.337). Model fit is acceptable (SRMR = 0.063, NFI = 0.875). Technology alone does not build loyalty; it does so through the satisfaction it generates. Destination managers at Kintamani should invest in smart tourism not merely as a digital amenity, but as a pathway to meaningful experiences and repeat visits.